close
close

Stop snoozing multiple alarms. Here’s how to wake up from just one

Stop snoozing multiple alarms. Here’s how to wake up from just one

Whether you can stop hitting the snooze button, ignore the clock altogether, or even throw something at it, most of us have had the classic morning experience of struggling with our alarm clocks. Although it may seem like an impossible task, our brains and bodies can often be trained to wake up with just one alarm clock. And when that back and forth is cut out of your morning, you can feel better throughout the day. In any case, starting with a stressful morning is not the best way to relax.

How to wake up from one alarm clock?

One of the first and most important steps to waking up to that first alarm is to prepare your mind and body for a good night’s sleep the night before. Many variables can affect the quality of your sleep and how you feel in the morning. Some of the more well-known and important tips include limiting screen time before bed, keeping your bedroom free of noise and light, making sure your bed and bedding are comfortable, avoiding caffeine and alcohol before bed, and avoiding melatonin supplements as they can sometimes leave you sleepy in the morning.

It is also important to relax well before going to bed. This may involve some actions simple yoga posesreading on the couch or sipping herbal tea. And don’t lie in bed to relax and scroll on your phone all day; try to use it only for sleep or intimacy. This combination of strategies and habits can help you get enough high-quality sleep, making waking up from just one alarm less of a task or challenge.

6 tips and tricks on how to wake up from the first alarm clock

Morning shot of a man lying in bed and listening to the phone. Morning shot of a man lying in bed and listening to the phone.

Yana Iskaeva/Getty Images

After you’ve done everything you can to ensure a full night of good sleep, there are a few tricks and tips you can experiment to help you wake up from the first alarm.

Try an alarm clock for dawn

A relatively new addition to the world of alarm clocks, sunrise alarms work to wake you up by simulating natural lightingprojecting an artificial sunrise into your room. For those who are sensitive enough to light, this can help wake you up more naturally and faster. Proponents of these alarms say they can help regulate your circadian rhythm and make you more alert and ready when you wake up. The morning light signals to us that it is time to wake up, andwaiting time outside immediately in natural sunlight helps to reset our circadian rhythm. Dawn alarms can be found in different intensities and styles to suit your light preferences.

Move the alarm

If you’re hitting snooze a lot, try moving alarm clock further out of reach. If you have to physically get out of bed to hit the snooze button, it might be easier to just stay awake. Sometimes the key to getting up and moving is just getting started moving. Getting out of bed, opening your eyes and stretching your body can wake up your brain and leave you feeling more engaged and ready to take on the day.

Create a daily routine

The human brain is susceptible to habits once they are formed. If you’ve been waking up at the same time every day for about a month, you may find it hard not to wake up naturally at that time. Setting a routine and forming habits can train your brain to develop an “autopilot” mode that helps some people get up on time in the morning. Sometimes you can wake up before the first alarm, but it’s worth using it until you’re sure you’ll wake up.

Get morning sunlight right away

Morning light can help wake our bodies up by reducing melatonin production and switching us to produce hormones that promote alertness. If your window faces in the right direction and you aspire wake up with sunriseyou may be able to use the sun as your natural alarm clock. If you want to sleep in a little later, you’ll want to get up and go out into the sunlight only after the alarm goes off. The more mechanically inclined can find a way to link their curtains to an alarm clock, but the rest of us will have to rely on getting out of bed the old-fashioned way before basking in the morning light.

Have a snack and drink water

Taking care of hydration and some key nutrients right away can make a big difference in your energy levels and alertness. Hydration can greatly aid brain function and is an integral part of many bodily functions. Nutrition can help raise blood sugar levels and provide our brains and bodies with the nutritional fuel they need to function at a high level. Hydration and nutrition are essential to maintaining our health, but they can also make a huge contribution to a healthy morning. Certain smells can also help with the awakening process. For example, if you set up the coffee maker and smell the coffee in the morning, this may be a signal for your body to wake up.

Find the human alarm

If you live with someone who wakes up earlier, you can try having them wake you up in the morning instead of relying on a traditional alarm clock. Sometimes waking up to another person is easier than an annoying beep (or whatever less harsh sound you prefer). For some, this can help because there is a sense of responsibility and accountability when another person is involved. For others, it may be that their brains respond more to being woken up by another person than by an alarm clock.

Consistency is key

White digital flip clock with sunlight. White digital flip clock with sunlight.

Design/Getty Images

While there are several strategies to consider when trying to wake up from the first alarm, the most important is to ensure good sleep and follow a consistent routine. This means that even if you want to try a few of these different alarm clock methods, it’s important to stick with each one for a while. It is generally believed that the brain takes about 21 days to form a habit, although this can vary from person to person. Trying any tactic for a short period of time can lead to failure. Also, if you can stick to a consistent sleep schedule and a behavior-based strategy, such as using your bed only for sleep, creating a calm sleep environment, and using these alarm clock techniques, you may find it much easier to wake up in the morning.